Well-played

2019 Summer Playgrounds see increased participation

Lorri Drumm

Staff Reporter

ldrumm@timesobserver.com

Photos courtesy of City of Warren Parks and Recreation Commission/cityofwarrenpa.gov
Weekly attendance at Beaty Park ranged from 88 to 147 participants during the eight weeks of the playground program. The number of registered playground program participants increased overall from the prior year at Beaty, Lacy and Crescent parks.

Photos courtesy of City of Warren Parks and Recreation Commission/cityofwarrenpa.gov Weekly attendance at Beaty Park ranged from 88 to 147 participants during the eight weeks of the playground program. The number of registered playground program participants increased overall from the prior year at Beaty, Lacy and Crescent parks.

Photos courtesy of City of Warren Parks and Recreation Commission/ Participants of the summer playground program at the Warren County Fair!

The playgrounds in Warren may be a bit quieter during the day as fall settles in, but statistics for summer show they were hot spots for summer fun.

The City Parks and Recreation Commission received copies of the playground report detailing activities and participation at Tuesday’s commission meeting. The number of registered playground program participants increased overall from the prior year at Beaty, Lacy and Crescent parks.

From mid-June through the beginning of August, recreational leaders supervise outdoor activities for children from ages 7 to 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day of the program. Children under age 7 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult while at the playground program.

Registered participants take part in a wide variety of daily activities including sports, arts and crafts, and games all provided at no cost. Several special field trips take place and lunch is also provided free of charge.

The nearly endless list of daily activities includes everything from Donut Olympics to science experiments. Field trips in 2019 included bowling, ice skating, a day at the Warren County Fair and a picnic at Betts Park.

Photos courtesy of City of Warren Parks and Recreation Commission/cityofwarrenpa.gov Weekly attendance at Beaty Park ranged from 88 to 147 participants during the eight weeks of the playground program. The number of registered playground program participants increased overall from the prior year at Beaty, Lacy and Crescent parks.

The summer lunch program is a reimbursement program through the Warren County School District. Children who attend the program at Beaty Park walk to Beaty Warren Middle School for lunch each day while lunch coolers are delivered at Lacy and Crescent parks. All three parks are considered “open sites” which allows children who are not registered for the playground program to request and receive a free lunch.

Weekly park attendance ranged from 88 to 147 at Beaty Park during the eight weeks of the playground program. Attendance at Lacy Park ranged from 24 to 55, while Crescent Park saw a low of 49 participants during the third week with a high of 123 the week prior.

Terry Williams, the city’s director of codes, permitting and recreation services, told commission members the summer program was successful thanks in part to an increase in sponsors and donations.

Photos courtesy of City of Warren Parks and Recreation Commission/ Participants of the summer playground program at the Warren County Fair!